Electrochemical activation of chemical reactions

Abstract

A process for the gasification or combined gasification and liquefaction of carbon or carbonaceous materials by utilizing electrochemically generated atomic hydrogen to activate the chemical reaction between the ions of dissociated water and the carbon or carbonaceous material in an electrolysis cell, thereby producing gaseous or combined gaseous and liquid products in amounts exceeding the Faraday equivalents of such products for the amount of electrical energy consumed.

I claim: 
     
       1. A process for the gasification or combined gasification and liquefaction of carbonaceous materials in an electrolytic cell including an anode and a cathode, the anode and cathode being immersed in an aqueous electrolyte and provided with a direct current power source, comprising the steps of: (a) disposing a carbonaceous material in the electrolyte;   (b) spacing the electrodes from each other at a distance equal to or less than approximately one and one-half inches;   (c) applying an electrical potential of sufficient intensity across the electrodes for causing an electrochemical oxidation-reduction reaction wherein oxidation occurs at the anode and reduction of water occurs at the cathode to generate atomic hydrogen and produce hydrogen gas; and   (d) utilizing the atomic hydrogen for activating a subsequent chemical oxidation-reduction reaction whereby gasification or combined gasification and liquefaction of the carbonaceous material is realized to produce a total amount of gaseous or combined gaseous and liquid product in excess of that normally realized only through electrochemical reaction in accordance with Faraday's Law for the amount of electrical energy consumed.   
     
     
       2. The process of claim 1 further including the step of adding an activator enhancement agent in the form of a hydride-forming metal or compound thereof to the electrolyte. 
     
     
       3. The process of claim 2 wherein the activator enhancement agent includes a metal or a salt of a metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, copper and iron, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       4. The process of claim 1 wherein the spacing between the electrodes is within the range of approximately 1/16 to 1/4 inch. 
     
     
       5. The process of claim 1 further including the step of utilizing a consummable anode formed of carbonaceous material. 
     
     
       6. The process of claim 1 wherein the carbonaceous material is substantially entirely comprised of solid organic hydrocarbons. 
     
     
       7. The process of claim 1 including the step of adding a defoaming agent to the electrolyte in an amount sufficient to at least substantially reduce any foaming of the electrolyte. 
     
     
       8. The process of claim 7 wherein the defoaming agent includes parabens. 
     
     
       9. The process of claim 1 further including the step of maintaining the electrolyte at a temperature of from approximately 175° to 200° F. 
     
     
       10. The process of claim 1 wherein the intensity of the electric potential applied across the electrodes is from approximately 1.8 to 3.2 volts. 
     
     
       11. The process of claim 1 wherein the current density is from approximately 1.0 to 12.0 amps/inch 2 . 
     
     
       12. The process of claim 1 wherein the aqueous electrolyte includes sulfuric acid in a concentration of from approximately 2.7 to 15.0N. 
     
     
       13. The process of claim 1 wherein the electrodes include a carbon anode and a metal cathode. 
     
     
       14. The process of claim 1 wherein: (a) the electrochemical oxidation-reduction reaction is expressed as follows: At the cathode:   2H.sup.+ +2e.sup.- →2H°       H°+H°→H.sub.2,        wherein H° is atomic hydrogen.   At the anode:   20.sup.= +2C-4e.sup.- →2CO, and         (b) the chemical oxidation-reduction reaction is expressed as follows:   OH.sup.- +H.sup.+ +C→H°+H°+CO, and       H°+H°→H.sub.2.       
     
     
       15. A process for the gasification of combined gasification and liquefaction of carbonaceous materials in an electrolytic cell including an anode and a cathode, the anode and cathode being immersed in an aqueous electrolyte and provided with a direct current power source, comprising the steps of: (a) disposing a carbonaceous material in the electrolyte;   (b) adding an activator enhancement agent in the form of a hydride-forming metal or compound thereof to the electrolyte;   (c) applying an electrical potential of sufficient intensity across the electrodes for causing an electrochemical oxidation-reduction reaction wherein oxidation occurs at the anode and reduction of water occurs at the cathode to generate atomic hydrogen and produce hydrogen gas; and   (d) utilizing the atomic hydrogen for activating subsequent chemical oxidation-reduction reaction whereby gasification or combined gasification and liquefaction of the carbonaceous material is realized to produce a total amount of gaseous or combined gaseous and liquid product in excess of that normally realized only through electrochemical reaction in accordance with Faraday's Law for the amount of electrical energy consumed.   
     
     
       16. The process of claim 15 wherein the activator enhancement agent includes a metal or salt of a metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, copper and iron, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       17. The process of claim 15 wherein the electrodes are spaced from each other at a distance equal to or less than approximately one and one-half inches. 
     
     
       18. The process of claim 17 wherein the spacing between the electrodes is within the range of approximately one-sixteenth to one-fourth inch. 
     
     
       19. The process of claim 15 further including the step of utilizing a consummable anode formed of carbonaceous material. 
     
     
       20. The process of claim 15 wherein the carbonaceous material is substantially entirely comprised of solid organic hydrocarbons. 
     
     
       21. The process of claim 15 including the step of adding a defoaming agent to the electrolyte in an amount sufficient to at least substantially reduce any foaming of the electrolyte. 
     
     
       22. The process of claim 21 wherein the defoaming agent includes parabens. 
     
     
       23. The process of claim 15 further including the step of maintaining the electrolyte at a temperature of from approximately 175° to 200° F. 
     
     
       24. The process of claim 15 wherein the intensity of the electric potential applied across the electrodes is from approximately 1.8 to 3.2 volts. 
     
     
       25. The process of claim 15 wherein the current density is from approximately 1.0 to 12.0 amps/inch 2 . 
     
     
       26. The process of claim 15 wherein the aqueous electrolyte includes sulfuric acid in a concentration of from approximately 2.7 to 15.0N. 
     
     
       27. The process of claim 15 wherein the electrodes include a carbon anode and a metal cathode. 
     
     
       28. The process of claim 15 wherein: (a) the electrochemical oxidation-reduction reaction is expressd as follows: At the cathode:   2H.sup.+ +2e.sup.- →2H°       H°+H°→H.sub.2,        wherein H° is atomic hydrogen.   At the anode:   20.sup.= +2C-4e.sup.- →2CO, and         (b) the chemical oxidation-reduction reaction is expressed as follows:   OH.sup.31 +H.sup.+ +C→H°+H°+CO,     and     H°+H°→H.sub.2.